Rimfire: Bolt vs Semi-Auto... pros/cons?

[10 Ringer']

Obviously chasing little critters with quick cheap semi-auto followup shots is a treat, but is some of the .22LR's energy spent on blowing back the action...? What are some other pros and cons for open sight targets up to 100yds- moving or stationary- ?

 

[Mulliga]

Obviously chasing little critters with quick cheap semi-auto followup shots is a treat, but is some of the .22LR's energy spent on blowing back the action...? What are some other pros and cons for open sight targets up to 100yds- moving or stationary- ?

A semiautomatic action doesn't reduce the energy of the bullet. It reduces the recoil to your shoulder. The change in the .22's velocity is negligible. I'm fairly sure of this.

 

[4v50 Gary]

For every action, there is an opposite and equal reaction. So, no, energy from the bullet (muzzle velocity & muzzle energy) isn't affected by the action of semi.

BTW, for plinking fun, I love the Chinese Mauser 98K lookalike carbine I bought. Excellent trigger and plenty accurate.

 

[Murphster]

Some random pros and cons:

If you ever want to use them to teach youngsters how to shoot, I'd probably vote for the bolt action. We're finding that some young folks who've grown up on video games have developed a spray and pray mentality. They make their shots too quickly. A bolt action slows them down and makes them concentrate (more) on marksmanship. (although I suppose just giving them one cartridge at a time would work also.)

If you're a gun cleaning nut, the semi-auto's take a bit more maintenance.
Some semi-auto makers never use two pieces on the action if they can use eight tiny pieces instead. Ruger 10/22's being one of the exceptions.

The competitive supershooters of rimfire competition lean towards bolt actions. For us mere mortals, the semi's can be quite accurate as well.

If I was critter shooting at 100 yards with open sights with a .22 where the wind was really blowing, I think I'd vote for the semi - and several magazines.

 

[Art Eatman]

As far as muzzle velocity from a semi-auto, the bullet is gone from the barrel before the bolt gets moving. It's that old Inertia thing...

, Art

 

[Chuck Dye]

Practice, practice, practice...

Do you hunt with a centerfire rifle? Choosing a rimfire with the same type action will contribute to your centerfire success. Not only are rimfires cheaper to feed, they are often welcome where centerfire rifles are not.

Of course, the best answer is to get both, and a falling block, and a pump, and a break top, and a...

 

[The Sensei]

Of course, the best answer is to get both, and a falling block, and a pump, and a break top, and a...

Huck
I like your attitude!



S.

 

[Dorrin79]

one minor point - a bolty .22 will be more reliable than a semi...

Semis will jam with bad or irregular ammo if you are fond of buying cheap bulk ammo.

Bolt-actions, generally, won't have this problem.

Generally speaking, though, I vastly prefer a semi (ruger 10/22 or Marlin mdl 60) to a bolt action

 

[swifter]

.22 semis are filthy . The empty spews partially and unburned powder into the action during ejection. in comparison, a bolt gun is amazingly clean.

Tom

 

[Mulliga]

I have a Marlin semiauto and it works fine. Any .22 by a major manufacturer (i.e. not milsurp) will likely fit your needs, but some will be (much) nicer than others.

As far as open sights go, I never use them unless I have to (bad eyesight). Get a decent used rimfire scope in fixed or low power and it should be fast and accurate.

 

[Smoke]

You will waste more ammo with a semi auto....simply because every once in a while "spray and pray" is fun.

I don't know how many times I've taken the 10/22 out to the range and tried to see what kind of 10 shot groups I could get while firing as rapidly as possible.

Dang.....I think I need to go try again.

Smoke

 

[Surely]

10/22

Your collection isnt complete without one and they are fun as hell to modify. Walmart has a nice stainless/laminate version for under 200 bucks.

 

[Kaylee]

If you ever want to use them to teach youngsters how to shoot, I'd probably vote for the bolt action. We're finding that some young folks who've grown up on video games have developed a spray and pray mentality. They make their shots too quickly. A bolt action slows them down and makes them concentrate (more) on marksmanship. (although I suppose just giving them one cartridge at a time would work also.)

also works for us grown ups who've never really played video games.
That's probably the biggest reason I prefer bolt actions, 'cause with my lack of self control sometimes, that little voice in the back of my mind singing go ahead, blow the shot, you have a lot more where that one came from gets awful loud to me with a semi.

Further, I prefer the bolty (CZ 452!! CZ 452!!) because of the insane out of the box accuracy-for-the-money, the full-size (or almost so) handling (hence the similarity to hunting/roustabout rifles), good iron sights, and the ability to easily single-load. (when you're working your way through the better part of a 1000-round brick in the space of an afternoon, single-loading starts looking a whole lot better than constantly loading magazines)

of course, you can take aimed shots with a semi, whereas you can't really do spray-and-pray stress relief with a bolty. All comes down to your personal preferences I guess.

 

[lycanthrope]

The 10/22 is the 1911 of rimfires. Easily modified and capable of great accuracy and modification.

STI makes a 10/22 that is excellent. It's bolt counterpart is made by Kimber. Anything less is a plinker, although the base 10/22 is a great place to start.

 

[Sharpshooter223]

Bolt or semi? It really depends on what you are wanting. If your hunting go for the bolt for sure. I used to have a 10/22 that I hunted with (birds squirrels rabbits whatever) and I don't know how many times I heard that pathetic little clicking sound when I had something in my sights that just got away. I sold my modified 10/22 that had a heavy barrel trigger kit ect. to get a 77/22 in the varmit model. The bolt is smooth it shoots better than my 10/22 did and all i've done is add fluting, target crown, and a VQ trigger. Of course my bolt winchester 52 outshoots the hell outta both of them . Nevertheless if you like to upgrade your rifle and target shoot a lot the 10/22 is cheap and it's a fun rifle to have.

 

[DrDremel]

I used to think semi-auto but I have since sold my 10/22. I have 9 .22 rifles and they are all great but the bolt action gets used the most. Hitting a clay at 200 yards with a .22 lr using sale priced ammo is great. I t really surprised me that it can be done consistently.